Tenants

Information for Tenants

1. Paying Bond

The rental bond is requested as financial protection should there be a breach in the Tenancy Agreement. Your rental bond will be lodged with the Rental Tenancy Authority. The bond is held as security against any property damage, undue wear and tear or in the event there is rent outstanding. In the event there is no damage to the property over and above 'normal wear and tear' expected during the term of your tenancy and rent is paid as appropriate, the bond amount will be refunded promptly by the Rental Tenancy Authority after you vacate. The amount of the bond is specified in the Tenancy Agreement document.

2. Paying Rent

It is your legal responsibility to pay your rent to the Landlord in advance. Please ensure that your payments reach us on or before the due date. Rent must be paid by the method stated on your tenancy agreement.If you have any problems with your rent payments, please notify your Property Manager at the earliest possible time. If you fall into arrears, we will be obligated to follow the procedures outlined in the Residential Tenancies Act to collect the rent on behalf of the Landlord.

3. Inventory / Pre-inspection

An entry condition report is used to determine the condition of the property upon your occupation and ensures that it is returned to us in the same condition. It also ensures that you are not held responsible for damage at the expiry of your tenancy which may have been there prior to your occupation.You have 7 days to make additional comments and notes, sign and return the document to our office. The document will be filed with your Tenancy Agreement and used as evidence of the property condition at the commencement of the tenancy compared to the condition upon vacating.

4. Routine Inspections

Your first routine inspection will be scheduled between the initial 8-12 weeks of your tenancy commencing and every 3 – 6 months after that. We are required under the guide lines of the Residential Tenancies Act to provide you with 7 days written notice of the upcoming inspection. This letter will specify the date and an approximate period during which the inspection will be conducted. Unfortunately due to time constraints, it is not possible to alter the inspection time. You don’t have to be present, but are most welcome to be there so we can discuss any problems.

5. Occupancy

Only the people (and the number of people) included on your tenancy agreement are permitted to reside at the property on a permanent basis. Should a Tenant wish to move out, please notify us in writing immediately.

6. Letting and Assignment

It is a requirement of your tenancy for you to seek permission from us if you wish for another person to occupy the property.We require the person to submit an application for residential tenancy requesting permission to reside at the property under your current lease term. We then process their application and check their references to ensure they are a suitable occupant. The Landlord is then requested to grant permission for this occupant to occupy the property. If permission is granted, the Tenant is only permitted to reside at the property under your current lease agreement.As the primary Tenant of the property, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to ensure the rent is paid in full and on time and that the property sustains no damage. If damage does occur and rent is not paid, it will be YOUR bond which is claimed against.

7. Breaking a Lease

Your tenancy agreement is a legally binding contract and as such, processes need to be followed to break any tenancy agreement. In the first instance, please contact your Property Manager to inform them of your intention. They will forward you 'An Agreement to Terminate a Fixed Term Tenancy' (break lease) and details of your obligations. In accordance with the relevant Residential Tenancies Act, you will be required to pay a break lease penalty which will be outlined in your Residential Lease Agreement.

8. Terminating a Tenancy

At the end of the fixed term- If you want to end your tenancy when the fixed term period of the agreement is due to run out, you will need to give at least 14 days notice. This notice can be given up to and including the last day of the fixed term.After the fixed term- If you want to end your tenancy after the fixed term has ended (and you have not signed another lease), you will need to give at least 21 days notice. This notice can be given at any time and does not have to line up with the rent payment cycle. You must pay the rent up to and including the day your notice ends and you vacate.

9. Leaving the Property

Once the Property Manager has received/issued your 'Notice of Intention to Leave / Notice to Leave', they will contact you and advise requirements for handing over vacant possession. Once vacant possession is established (that is, all keys have been returned), a final inspection will be completed. Please note: a Property Manager cannot complete the final inspection until vacant possession has been established and rent will be charged until all keys are returned. The bond will only be returned once it has been established that all rent is paid as required, the property has been returned in its original condition as per the ingoing condition report(excluding fair wear and tear) and all applicable invoices have been paid.

10. Change of Contact Details

Please ensure you notify us immediately of any change to your contact details including home, mobile and business phone numbers and email address. We may issue you with formal notices via email and therefore it's crucial you keep us updated should your details change.

11. Insurance

The Landlord is responsible for insuring the property, however the Landlord is not responsible for any damage to any Tenants' possessions. Tenants should take out their own contents insurance for their possessions.

12. Utilities Bills

It is your responsibility unless advised otherwise to have the utilities (gas, electricity, telephone, pay TV, internet etc.) connected in your name upon entering the property and disconnected upon vacating. If in accordance with your Residential Tenancy Agreement you are responsible for water charges, you will be invoiced accordingly. You have 30 days to pay the invoice..

13. Making Changes to the Property including Painting/Decorating/Renovating

Should you wish to make any changes to the property, you must obtain written permission from the agent/Landlord before any work commences. If consent is given, costs, colours and products used will need to be agreed on.

14. Animals

If you are permitted under your agreement to keep a pet at the property, please ensure that you regularly collect and dispose any faeces. Any damage to the property caused by the pet must be rectified by the Tenant. At the end of the Residential Tenancy Agreement, you will be required to complete a pest control for fleas by a reputable Pest Control company and get the carpets cleaned (a receipt will be required).

15. Car Parking

Tenants are to park only in the designated areas. Please ensure cars are not parked on grass verges or lawns. Cars that are not registered or running are not to be parked on the premises. In the case of units or flats, the strata company or body corporate rules pertaining to vehicles as set for the complex must be adhered to.Oil stains: Drip trays are to be kept on the garage floor to protect it from oil stains. Should stain occur, the Tenant will promptly attend to degreasing or will be charged for de-greasing.

16. Gardens

It is a requirement of your Tenancy Agreement that you as the Tenant are responsible for regular watering, weeding and mowing, unless otherwise provided for in the Tenancy Agreement.

17. Repairs and Maintenance Problems

It is important when you notice a maintenance issue, that you inform our office as soon as possible in writing. This can be done via email, fax or letter. Maintenance Request Forms are available at our office or downloadable from the tab to the left. Jobs requiring attention by tradespeople firstly require permission from the Landlord. Once the Landlord's approval has been obtained, a work order is forwarded directly to the specific tradesperson who will contact you to arrange a convenient time to address the approved maintenance. Please be aware that work carried out on the property by any person not approved under a work order from our office may result in your liability to pay the account. We endeavour to complete all routine maintenance within 7 days of receipt of the work order.

18. Emergency Repair

Listed within your Residential Tenancy Agreement, you will find details of approved contacts for emergency repairs. We ask that you always try to contact your Harcourts Cowleys Property Manager first, however if it is after hours and you cannot contact the Property Manager, you are permitted to contact the emergency contractors directly. The legislation is specific about what constitutes an emergency repair and it's important that you know that should the issue not be deemed an emergency, you will be responsible for the account.An emergency repair is something that is likely to cause injury, undue inconvenience, or which makes the property unsafe or insecure. Examples include: burst water service, broken toilet (where there is no other toilet), serious leak, and severe electrical fault.

19. Damage to the Premises

The Tenant shall ensure that all care is taken to avoid damage to the premises by the Tenants themselves or their guests. You are required to give notice to the Landlord of any damage to the premises as soon as you become aware of it.

20. Your Bond Refund

Once any outstanding issues have been addressed the bond refund form will need to be completed and signed by both parties. The document is forwarded to the Bond Authority requesting the release of all/part bond monies held against the tenancy.

21. Smoke Alarms

Under the Residential Tenancies Act the Landlords are responsible for the installation of smoke alarms in rented premises. Landlords have the right of access to rented premises to fit or maintain smoke alarms after giving the Tenant at least 2 days notice.Neither the Landlord nor the Tenant is, except with reasonable excuse, permitted to remove or interfere with the operation of a smoke alarm fitted in the rented premises. Where a smoke alarm is of the type that has a replaceable battery, it is recommended that the Landlord put a new battery in at the commencement of a tenancy.After the tenancy begins, the Tenant is responsible for replacing the battery if needed. Fire and Rescue NSW can assist elderly Tenants or those physically unable to change a smoke detector battery.

22. Pools & Spas

Please not that you are not permitted to erect a pool or spa without permission from the owner and certain legal requirements are now in place. If there is a pool/spa at the property, you must not leave the fence ajar, nor store/leave objects around the pool/spa which could be climbed upon. For more information, please contact your Property Manager.

23. Light Bulbs

It is the Tenants responsibility to change all light globes throughout the tenancy if the lights were in working order at the commencement of the lease agreement.

24. Privacy

We will hold your details on file in line with the Privacy Act and you can be assured that your information will not be given to a third party unless otherwise stated by yourself..